Transformers: Subterfuge Ch 3

NOTE: This is based on the movie-verse continuity.This fic occurs about a year after Revenge of the Fallen. Soundwave is still in orbit, and Laserbeak is the only Transformer from DOTM who makes an appearance in this. Rated G

Chapter Three

They appear to be in the same organization that assists the Autobots, Soundwave reported to Starscream, Megatron and Laserbeak. He uploaded relevant data and reports to the three. Starscream reluctantly admired the spymaster's skills. He had discovered the Autobots' human conspirators faster than imagined. Thankfully, that shouldn't interfere with Starscream's plans. Assuming the Autobots were halfway competent.

There are Autobots there? Megatron asked.

Negative.

Well done, Soundwave.

Starscream snarled silently. The orbiting bot had spies sitting in Boston for all this time, and until Starscream mentioned it, he had never noticed the humans. Yet, Megatron congratulated him. Intolerable.

"Starscream."

"Yes, my Lord Megatron." He bowed expansively, burying his frustration.

"Go there. You will teach them their error in helping the Autobots."

"Of course, master. I would love nothing more." Starscream hesitated. He confirmed that Laserbeak was paying attention. "With your permission, I will need to cover my trail. I should circle around, approach them from an angle that will not lead back here. However, that journey will take quite some time. I will be unable to protect you."

"I am Megatron! I do not need Starscream to protect me. I need no one." Megatron advanced on him. "Leave. Now."

"Yes, master. At once, my lord." He bowed again, backing away. A side glance confirmed that Laserbeak – and by extension, Soundwave – had observed the entire exchange. Excellent. Witnesses to both his desire to safeguard their leader, and that wish being refuted forcefully. At a respectful distance, he leapt into the air, his body folding and twisting as he assumed his alt-form.

Starscream barely concealed his excitement. The Autobots were coming, and Megatron was alone. Well, Laserbeak was still there, but in a fight the mini-con hardly mattered. Assuming more than one arrived – and it insulted him to consider they might only send a single Autobot to investigate him – they should have little trouble dealing with the weakened Megatron and the tiny avian robot. Soon, so very soon now.

He calculated his destination – his alibi – and several routes that would delay him long enough, allowing the Autobots to find and deal with Megatron. He discarded most as too out of the way. Soundwave's satellite orbited almost directly overhead now. The spymaster monitored Greenland and his beloved leader closely. Soundwave needed to believe Starscream was taking the quickest, yet indirect, route available.

After a few moments, he settled on a course. It traveled near the Autobots probable location. As expected, they had been jamming the sensor nodes. A few had briefly flickered, then silence. Unfortunately, that made tracking them difficult. But if they followed the nodes, Starscream's own route should avoid them. It was a risk, but necessary.

Starscream raced near ground level, ducking into canyons and between mountains. Idly spiraling through the air, he imaged how to properly express his horror and shock over the soon-to-be death of their leader. Such pleasant thoughts could entertain him all day.

His internal alarms blared, interrupting his musing. Missiles streaked up at him.

Starscream banked sharply away, recovering from his surprise. Two glanced off his undercarriage before he adjusted his trajectory. Accelerating, he pulled skyward, rolling and dodging more incoming fire. Startled, he scanned the mountains on either side. Ironhide and Sideswipe followed his path with another barrage. He switched to thermal scans. Hidden behind an outcropping crouched one of their fleshling allies.

Here? The Autobots were here: not following nodes like they were supposed to. They wouldn't find Megatron. All his plans, perfectly laid out, and yet the Autobots show up here?

Why are you here? Starscream broadcast to them, furious. He circled high overhead, well out of the Autobots' effective range. They still fired at him, regardless.

What's wrong, 'Con? Did we scare you? Ironhide sent back, eager to engage his enemy.

Hey, Starscream, why don't you come down here and play with us? Sideswipe added.

Play? Very well. Try this one. It's one of my favorite games. Enjoy.

Starscream plummeted. As he fell, he launched a continuous stream of missiles at the infuriating bots. They took cover. He was too far away, but it forced them to break off their own concentrated attack. Ironhide returned fire haphazardly as he dove aside. Starscream easily avoided the wild shots, swooping low below a ledge, under the Autobots' line-of-sight. Spinning, he angled upward an instant later, arching toward the last known position of their human ally. He sped back over the ledge. Before him, the fleshling reversed direction: from sprinting forward to almost falling over backwards away from the Decepticon.

Starscream fired two missiles.

They streaked away, over the startled human and high into the cliff face. Exploding outward, rock and ice rained down, knocking more and more rubble loose. The avalanche built upon itself, growing and tumbling toward the slow organic creature below. Chuckling, Starscream raced away.

Sideswipe sprang toward his endangered ally. The Autobot easily reached and scooped up his target. Debris crashed around them. Extending his lethal blade, Sideswipe jumped around or cut his way through stone and ice. Satisfied the smaller bot and human were occupied, Starscream turned his attention to his true target.

Ironhide continued firing at him with both his cannons. Sheer speed and dexterity saved Starscream. He rolled in a quick loop, putting the weapons master in his sights. Both opponents shot a quick burst, before the incoming fire forced them to dodge aside. Starscream cursed to himself. This sort of head on confrontation was not his strength. He preferred to strafe his targets, striking and rushing away before they could mount a counterattack. And always from a distance. This straight on combat was Ironhide's specialty – a thought that did not thrill him. However, he had little choice. His diversion with the avalanche wouldn't last, and Sideswipe would return soon. And most likely the human. Those creatures had proved amazingly annoying. It was too much to hope the rocks and ice would destroy them.

Starscream, what is your situation? Soundwave's calm voice broke into Starscream's cursing.

Have you not been watching? Are your visual receptors malfunctioning? I thought you were monitoring this area.

Silence. Perhaps the spymaster was finally performing a useful task.

Starscream! What is happening there? Megatron growled over his internal receiver.

Then again, perhaps not.

He cursed, as several of Ironhide's cannon blasts singed him. Briefly, he visualized Soundwave's broken and smoldering body at his feet.

I have discovered two Autobots here; Ironhide and Sideswipe. 'Discovered' sounded much better than 'stumbled upon,' and infinitely better than 'was ambushed by.' I have engaged them. Sideswipe is temporarily occupied. I am currently combating Ironhide.

Starscream paid minor heed to Megatron after that, answering further questions curtly, albeit respectfully. Ironhide demanded more attention.

Despite several hits, from both machine guns and missiles, Ironhide wasn't slowing down. Starscream changed tactics: instead of firing at the weapon specialist, he switched to the slope directly below him. He rolled, bombarding the cliff while minimizing Ironhide's hits. At a different time, he might have found it humorous that he considered a mountain an easier kill than the Autobot.

The cliff began giving away. Jogging sideways, Ironhide continued firing with a stubborn single mindedness. Starscream swung around the mountain. Once out of sight, he partially transformed to his true form – just enough to reverse the direction of his engines. He threw himself into a rapid 180, and resumed his alt-form. The Autobots would expect him to reemerge on the opposite side. He wouldn't oblige them. A moment after disappearing behind the mountain, he blasted back around.

And into Ironhide's cannon fire.

Starscream screeched. Plasma tore into him. Fire bloomed across his armor, eating inside it and fusing several of his internal circuits. The explosion scrambled his external sensors, effectively blinding him. Rotating into a spin, he sped skyward, away from the damnable Autobots. He needed time. Unable to track incoming fire, he took several more minor hits. Frantic, he rerouted his internal functions, prioritizing external sensors. Autobot fire dropped off as he gained altitude and left their effective range. Moments later – which stretched for an eternity to the blinded Decepticon – he regained visuals and basic sensor functionality.

He scanned the terrain below. Ironhide and Sideswipe – back in action, both firearms drawn – stood ready, waiting. The smaller, silver bot gestured at him, inviting him to come back down. Even the fleshling stood nearby, wielding a grenade launcher. Starscream considered various avenues of attack, and discarded them. He then considered what lie would convince Megatron he was acting in his leader's interests by abandoning this fight. He was wounded, and did not care for the current circumstances. Circling the battlefield, he weighed his options.

Enough, Starscream. Fall back. We're done here.

Wha- ? I mean, as you wish, my lord.

Soundwave must have been broadcasting the fight to Megatron. Finally, the orbiting bot provided a useful service.  

Interesting. The order contradicted Megatron's normal viscous nature. It also confirmed his leader's secret insecurity. Megatron never hesitated in risking his followers' lives. Now, when a fight so close to his own location began to sour, he ordered a retreat? Megatron must want loyal Decepticons nearby, ready and available to defend him. But Starscream wasn't going to argue. It mirrored his own goal of self preservation.

He spared an annoyed glance at the Autobots below. All his planning, so many days of careful preparation, setting everything up, just to give them a chance at what they wanted, killing Megatron, and they what, get lost along the way?

He spat a curse at them, and sped away.

~ * ~ * ~

"Huh. I think I need Ratchet to check my audio receptors," Ironhide muttered, watching Starscream disappear into the distance.

"Why's that?" Sideswipe checked his blade for nicks.

"I swear Starscream called just us 'incompetents.' Like he was mad because we did something wrong."

"What, 'cause we didn't finish scrapping him? That ain't no big thing. Just tell him to come down a little closer. I'll scrap him good." Sideswipe extended his other blade, admiring them. He nodded at the larger bot, chuckling. "Heh, I told you following the canyon was better idea than those sensors. Starscream always liked sneaking around."

"Yeah, yeah, you're some kinda genius, aren't you? So, how many of your shots hit him?"

"What matters here, is none of yours would've if I hadn't suggested this route."

Ironhide shoved the silver bot, shaking his head. He tried to ignore the other's laugh.

"I really hate that guy," Lennox came up to them, knocking dust off himself. He nodded toward the empty sky. "He dropped a mountain on me. A mountain."

"Aw, that just means he likes you. He's shy, and doesn't know how to express himself." Sideswipe patted Lennox's back, so very gently.

"You've been around humans too long." Ironhide shook his head again.